Wow! I Never Knew!

[Becky6]

Well, I stumbled across this whole gluten thing because of my daughters awful bm issues. I had her go gluten-free and so many things cleared up! I got my celiac panel done the next week and went gluten-free that night. My tests came back neg. But I have never felt so good after going gluten-free! I never knew that my stomach hurt that badly everyday!! Seriously, I knew I had tummy issues but wow I didn't realize it until I started to feel better! My runny nose and cough are gone, I now realize that I felt foggy or like there was a screen over me and I swear my ADHD symptoms are vanishing! My joint pain and fatigue are also diminishing! Amazing that I have felt that crappy for over 10 years and only after a month of being gluten-free it is clearing up!! I am so glad that I stumbled across this board and that me and my daughter are on our way to mending!!

[jerseyangel]

Glad you found us, too! Happy to hear you are feeling so much better--brain fog is the worst

[Guest nini]

So glad you found us too and that you can see the visible results of your efforts! It is so rewarding when you realize how much better you feel! Makes all the "sacrifice" worth while!

[Becky6]

It is so funny cause I had never heard of brain fog and didn't realize I had it until it is gone! My husband still thinks I am a nut that I am feeling better already but whatever! I don't care what anyone thinks it is worth feeling this good!

[jerseyangel]

HaHa--I never knew what it was either. I used to tell the Dr. that I felt like I had a vail over my head constantly and I felt oddly detached from myself. I'm sure they thought I was nuts! It wasn't until I was DX and was learning about everything that I figured out what it was!

[kenyan]

Hi guys,

I am still waiting for the results of my blood test (hopefully tomorrow) so I am still eating as per always. I couldn't agree with you more about the brain fog. That and the feeling of total total fatigue (ALL THE TIME) have been crippling for me for more than 15 years and I was getting sick of seeing my doctor becasue I was beginning to feel like I was the problem..... Anyway my wife heard a story on the rqadioi about celiacs and couldn't believe what she was hearing as the ladie was discussing all the same symptons that I have been living with all these years. WELL, hopefully I am about to discover that I am a celiac and that some I will be on the mend.

Once I change my diet to eliminate gluton, can you give me an idea on time frames for feeling better? Thanks so much for listening.

Ta from the land down under.....(Australia)

[Jnkmnky]

Hi guys,

I am still waiting for the results of my blood test (hopefully tomorrow) so I am still eating as per always. I couldn't agree with you more about the brain fog. That and the feeling of total total fatigue (ALL THE TIME) have been crippling for me for more than 15 years and I was getting sick of seeing my doctor becasue I was beginning to feel like I was the problem..... Anyway my wife heard a story on the rqadioi about celiacs and couldn't believe what she was hearing as the ladie was discussing all the same symptons that I have been living with all these years. WELL, hopefully I am about to discover that I am a celiac and that some I will be on the mend.

Once I change my diet to eliminate gluton, can you give me an idea on time frames for feeling better? Thanks so much for listening.

Ta from the land down under.....(Australia)

Even if your tests come back neg., you may still benefit from a gluten-free diet. I did. My tests all came back neg., and I considered the gluten-free diet kind of as an option. The longer I went gluten-free, the worse I felt when I DID eat gluten...even once a month. So, now I'm a strict gluten-free person. The last time I ate gluten, the brain fog made it difficult to care for my kids. That's scary.

[stef-the-kicking-cuty]

Hi Becky and Ta,

welcome to our board. You might have already read it. But just in case you didn't. You can still have celiac, even if the tests are neg. A negativ test can't rule celiac out, but if it's positive, you know for sure, you have it.

Hugs, Stef

[Becky6]

My tests were neg but I really don't care! I feel so much better from being gluten-free and will never go back! My daughter also had neg tests and is doing great gluten-free! So even if it is neg try the diet anyways!

[jenvan]

Becky-So glad you are noticing improvement! It is a process for sure. And it is very true that once you find out about Celiac, it seems like a whole new world is opened up to you--that's how I felt. Keep us updated...

[Guest nini]

I'm glad you've decided to stay gluten free despite the negative tests... ya know, I do believe the positive dietary response is just as valid a diagnostic tool...

I just wish that I had known about this board about 6 years ago. I had been really sick and had several miscarriages, and a friend of mine told me about Celiac. Her mom has it. She said it sounded like what I was describing. I did try the diet briefly at the time, but there wasn't a whole lot of gluten-free options at the time and I didn't have the support network I do now. I also cheated because I wasn't convinced it was my problem. I let my OB/Gyn talk me out of the diet because I was pregnant again and he said that the gluten-free diet was bad for the baby ( ) Anyway... it took until my daughter was 3 (and after that pregnancy ended up with me being very ill almost dying and being on bedrest and having her a month premature) before I got a Dr. that believed me and sent me to a GI who accurately dx'ed me.

I guess my point is, I applaud anyone who has the strength to stick to this diet without a positive dx. I wish that I had. Although I am glad I do have a positive dx so that I have no doubts.

[Becky6]

Now that I know how good I feel while being on the diet I would be crazy to go back to feeling like crap! My body ached so bad I could barely move!! Interesting about your pregnancy Nini-I had a really bad one too. Got pre-e, HELLP syndrome and almost died and had Belle 7 weeks early. Wonder if that was related to gluten?

[Guest nini]

Now that I know how good I feel while being on the diet I would be crazy to go back to feeling like crap! My body ached so bad I could barely move!! Interesting about your pregnancy Nini-I had a really bad one too. Got pre-e, HELLP syndrome and almost died and had Belle 7 weeks early. Wonder if that was related to gluten?

I'd be willing to bet ya that it was... I had full blown Toxemia, my blood pressure was through the roof and I had gained so much weight, the Dr.s failed to realize that my hips were too narrow for my daughter's head to get through and she got stuck in the birth canal, resulting in an emergency C-section.

[Becky6]

Scary!!! My bp was 217/182 on meds!!! They were freaked out at the hospital. They told me not to have another because I have an 80% chance of it happening again. I wonder if being gluten-free will change that??

[Guest nini]

Scary!!! My bp was 217/182 on meds!!! They were freaked out at the hospital. They told me not to have another because I have an 80% chance of it happening again. I wonder if being gluten-free will change that??

being gluten-free probably would change it, but ya know, I'm too afraid to take that chance. So, it will be only one child for me. I just can't see risking my life for another pregnancy when I've got this kiddo to take care of.

[Becky6]

See that is how I think! I am way too scared!!

[Guest nini]

I am so with you on that one Becky... my mom keeps having dreams about me having another baby and I keep telling her "dream on"... it aint gonna happen!